The University of Navarra (UNAV) is a non-profit private university founded in 1952 based in Pamplona, Spain. It confers 56 official degrees and administers more than 90 postgraduate programs (including 20 doctoral programs and 42 master’s programs) through 10 schools, two superior colleges, the IESE Business School and its 5 comprehensive Research Centres: CCUN (Cancer Centre Clínica Universidad de Navarra), BIOMA (Biodiversity and Environment Institute) and DATAI (Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence), ICS (INSTITUTE FOR CULTURE AND SOCIETY and CIN (Centre for Nutrition Research).

UNAV has more than 14.000 students in 5 campuses: Pamplona, San Sebastian, Madrid, Barcelona and New York with a wide network of international universities and research centres.

UNAV has a sound track record in participating in European Research Programs. The university has participated in 126 European projects from FP4 to Horizon Europe, including LIFE, ERASMUS+ and INTERREG Programs; of which 22 projects were coordinated by the university. The University also counts with a thorough experience in MSCA and ERC grants with over 26 signed grants.

UNAV been awarded with the HR Excellence in Research quality seal (HRS4R) that guarantees the implementation of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

HOSTING GROUP:

Research group SAVIArquitectura with the following research lines: i) Life Cycle Analysis and material management. Assessment of environmental impacts; ii) Architecture for the vulnerable population; Aging; Energy poverty; Accessibility; iii) Environmental Certification, energy monitoring, calibration and simulation of buildings; Digital twins; iv) Industrialized and sustainable components for buildings; Adaptive building envelopes; v) Strategies for mitigation and adaptation to Climate Change; and vi) Sustainable rehabilitation of buildings, neighborhoods and cities; Regenerative Architecture

SAVIArquitectura has participated and led research projects at European, national and local level. Several publications, articles in indexed journals and books are the result of its research. Researchers collaborates or had collaborated with other national, European and international research groups.

Some publications related to the topic are:

• Arriazu-Ramos A., Bes-Rastrollo M., Sánchez-Ostiz Gutiérrez A., Monge-Barrio A. “From urban microclimate to indoor overheating: Analysis of residential typologies during typical climate series and extreme warm summer” ENERGY AND BUILDINGS 299 (2023) págs. 113620; ISSN 0378-7788 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113620
• Monge-Barrio, Aurora; Bes Rastrollo, Maira; Dorregaray Oyaregui, Sara; et al.; “Encouraging natural ventilation to improve indoor environmental conditions at schools. Case studies in the north of Spain before and during COVID”; ENERGY AND BUILDINGS; Vol. 254 (2022) 111567; ISSN 0378-7788 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111567
• Gamero Salinas, Juan Carlos; Kishnani, Nirmal; Monge Barrio, Aurora; et al. “Evaluation of thermal comfort and building form attributes in different semi-outdoor environments in a high-density tropical setting”. BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT (2021), 205, pp. 108255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108255
• Gamero Salinas, Juan Carlos (Autor de correspondencia); Kishnani, N.; Sánchez-Ostiz Gutiérrez, Ana; Monge Barrio, Aurora; Benítez Sastoque, Edgar Ricardo, “Porosity, openness, and exposure: Identification of underlying factors associated with semi-outdoor spaces´ thermal performance and clustering in tropical high-density Singapore” ENERGY AND BUILDINGS (2022), 272, 112339 ISSN: 0378-7788 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112339
• Monge-Barrio, A. Sánchez-Ostiz Gutierrez A., “Passive Energy Strategies for Mediterranean Residential Buildings. Facing the Challenges of Climate Change and Vulnerable Populations”, Springer. Green Energy and Technology (2018). ISBN 978-3-319-69882-3 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69883-0

Offer description

Indoor overheating in urban areas is a major issue mainly related to the impact on people´s wellbeing and health, especially during heat waves (HW) more severe, long and frequent due to Climate Change. In addition, these events can go along with wildfires or hazes (“calima” in Spanish) that can compromise natural ventilation (NV) due to their impact on indoor air quality (IAQ). NV is a traditional, common and efficient strategy to cool indoor spaces specially in the residential stock in temperate climates, but can be inefficient during these extreme events.

On the other hand, studies show that thresholds to consider a HW event from the meteorological perspective are different and higher from those related to mortality, therefore, considering only the first ones can underestimate the analysis of impact of high temperatures on health.

Characteristics of dwellings and built environment (related to the existence of green areas, etc.) are key to their adaptation and to reduce vulnerability to high temperatures. Finally, GIS-based methodologies offer a tool to analyze overheating from building (even dwelling) typology to urban scale using different sources in relation to their impact on health.

Based on these premises and from an urban perspective linked to dwelling typologies, which methodology should consider the relation between building and built environment characteristics, and health during HW events? What limitations are derived from events as wildfires and hazes during HW on dwelling adaptation, on the pathway to the de-carbonization in the built sector?

Working from previous GIS-based studies developed in the research group, we would be happy to learn about your personal approach to effectively impact one of the most relevant challenges for society.

Key words

GIS, Overheating, health, dwellings, heatwave, IAQ, thermal comfort, climate change

Research Field

Thermal comfort and IAQ in extreme events

REQUIREMENTS OF THE CANDIDATE

Main research field

Architecture or Architectural Engineering PhD

Specific requirements

Date of PhD degree: No more than 8 years since the date of PhD defense at date 2024 September 11.

The candidate must not have lived or worked in Spain more than 12 months in the last 36 months calculating from 2024 September 11.

Language

English

Level 

Excellent

Required research Experience

PhD with papers related to the topic

Desirable (not mandatory) research experience with GIS, on comfort and/or health studies, statistical analysis, Energy+ (DesignBuilder, etc.), Ladybug, Envimet, monitoring, etc.

Applications: documents to be submitted and deadlines

CV

Letter of motivation (max. 1 page)

Concept note with first idea on the specific topic (max. 1 page)